Research Needs in Phyloinformatics

Abstract

Phylogenetic trees provide a rigorous framework for all aspects of basic and applied comparative biology. They are also having a dramatic impact on biomedical research and other problems of direct relevance to human health and well-being, such as managing threats from invasive species. Recognition of the important scientific and societal benefits arising from phylogenetic knowledge is generating interest in reconstructing a comprehensive phylogenetic Tree of Life (TOL), a structure that might well include a million species or more. The unprecedented scope of such an enterprise prompted us to organize a workshop to address the informatics needs of such an effort. A group of 26 phylogenetic biologists and computer scientists met at UC Davis on October 20-21, 2000 to make specific recommendations about how to proceed. Discussion led to broad agreement on the mission and goals of phyloinformatics, the elements needed in a Phyloinformatics Infrastructure (PII), and recommendations about implementation strategies.